September 7: Neither Snow Nor Rain Day

If it happens to rain today, don’t panic! Neither Snow Nor Rain Day actually has to do more with the U. S. postal service than anything else (which is great, since we’ve got 80% chance of thunderstorms here!).

On September 7, 1914, a very impressive looking post office, now known as the James A. Farley Building, opened in Manhattan. Carved above the front columns is a statement often considered the unofficial USPS creed:

Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.

Of course, you’d have to have outrageously good eyesight to pick it out of the picture above, but I assure you it is there. The phrase is adapted from a muchlonger quote by the 5th century BC historian Herodotus. Herodotus was referring to the courier service used in the ancient Persian empire.

Apparently, it operated rather like the Pony Express did just before the Civil War. Good riders and fast horses were posted one days travel from each other. The message would pass from person to person until it reached its destination.

Today, show a little love to the USPS. I know we all like to gripe about them, but there’s nothing like a mailman for dependability, rain or shine. And those of us who grew up with Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood know something exciting is bound to happen when Mr. McFeely shows up with his cheerful “Speedy Delivery!”

“Like the coolness of snow at harvest time
is a trustworthy messenger to those who send him.”